Apparatus for treating water

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for treating water to produce potable water includes a filter connected to an inlet of a heating unit in turn connected at an outlet to an input of a container with cooling components for separating out heavy water. The heavy water separator is coupled at an outlet to a tank having cooling and heating components and an ultraviolet radiation source for irradiating the water sample from the heavy water separator with ultraviolet radiation during a freezing and subsequent warming of the water sample. A storage vessel and a silver ionizer are disposed on a downstream side of the ultraviolet treatment tank. Various operations, including timing and water transfer, heating cooling and irradiating, are controlled by a programmed computer. Temperature sensors are disposed in the heating unit, the heavy water separator and the irradiation tank for monitoring temperatures of the water in the heating unit, the container and/or the tank. The programmed computer is operatively coupled to the sensors for controlling the cooling components and the heat exchange components in response to signals from the sensors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method and/or an apparatus for treatingwater. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and/or anapparatus for producing healthy potable water, useful in preventivetherapy.

Water is, of course, a sine qua non of life on this planet. Theimportance of having clean, microbe-free water is indisputable. It isalso known that water is healthier when the naturally occurring amountsof deuterium oxide or heavy water have been removed. People can extractheavy water manually, using a refrigeration unit. It is known that heavywater crystallizes or freezes at a higher temperature (about 38° F.)than normal water.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a method and/or anapparatus for treating water.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a methodand/or an apparatus for treating water to enhance the potability of thewater.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a methodand/or an apparatus for producing healthy potable water which is usefulin preventive therapy.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention is toprovide such a method and/or an apparatus for producing water useful inthe treatment and prevention of diseases.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe drawings and descriptions herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus for treating water to produce potable water comprises, inaccordance with the present invention, a first device for effectivelyseparating heavy water (deuterium oxide) out from an incoming watersample to produce a light-weight water sample, and a second device,operatively connected to the first device, for irradiating thelight-weight water sample with ultraviolet radiation.

Thus, the invention is directed in part to an apparatus which performs adeuterium-oxide extraction and destroys bacteria via ultraviolet light.It is generally contemplated that these two operations will take placein separate containers or tanks, the substantially deuterium-free waterbeing automatically transferred from a container to a tank where theultraviolet radiation treatment is implemented. However, it possible forthe ultraviolet treatment to be effectuated in the same chamber.

Cooling components are operatively connected to the container forreducing a temperature of the incoming water sample to a predeterminedtemperature (e.g., between 35° F. and 37° F.) above freezing andmaintaining the incoming water sample at that predetermined temperaturefor a predetermined period. This predetermined period obviously dependsnot only on the amount of water being subjected to the physicalseparation procedure but also depends on the configuration of thecontainer. Different container configurations will subject the incomingwater sample to different surface areas. Generally, the greater thesurface area in contact with the water sample, the less time requiredfor separating out the heavy water.

Preferably, the second device includes components for irradiating thelight-weight water sample with ultraviolet radiation during at least aportion of a freezing and subsequent warming of the light-weight watersample. More specifically, the second device includes a tank for holdingthe light-weight water sample, heat exchange components operativelyconnected to the tank for freezing and subsequently warming thelight-weight water sample, and an ultraviolet radiation source disposedsufficiently proximate to the tank for exposing the light-weight watersample in the tank to the ultraviolet radiation.

The deuterium-separation container is coupled to the irradiation tank(via a conduit) for transferring the light-weight water sample from thecontainer to the tank after the predetermined period and prior to thefreezing and subsequent warming of the light-weight water sample.

Preferably, the water treatment apparatus includes additional devices,other than the deuterium-separation device and the irradiation device.The additional devices include a heating unit and a filter disposedupstream of the container. The heating unit elevates the temperature ofthe incoming water sample prior to feeding thereof to thedeuterium-separation container and is connected to an input of thecontainer. The filter serves to remove particles from the incoming watersample. Preferably, the filter is located upstream of the heating unit,i.e., at an input thereof.

An optional device of the water treatment apparatus is a silver ionizerwhich adds controlled amounts of silver ions to the treated water priorto delivery to a user. The ionizer is located at an outlet of theirradiation tank and is connected thereto for adding silver ions to theirradiated light-weight water sample.

A storage vessel may be provided at an outlet of the irradiation tank.Conduits are provided at an outlet of the storage vessel and an outletof the silver ionizer for delivering water from the storage vessel andthe ionizer to a user. The ionizer is preferably connected to the tankvia the storage vessel.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the various operations arecontrolled by a programmed computer. The computer is connected to theoperating components, including the cooling and heating components, andto a plurality of flow-control valves which are disposed respectivelybetween the heating unit and the container, between the container andthe tank, between the tank and the storage vessel, and between thestorage vessel and the chamber. The computer thus determines thesuccessive residence times of a water samples in the heating unit, thedeuterium-separation container, the irradiation tank, the storage vesseland the ionizer, as well as the heating and cooling rates and the highand low temperatures. To that end, temperature sensors may be disposedrespectively in the heating unit, the container and/or the tank formonitoring temperatures of the water in the heating unit, the containerand/or the tank. The programmed computer is operatively coupled to thesensors for controlling the cooling components and the heat exchangecomponents in response to signals from the sensors.

A method for treating water to produce potable water comprises, inaccordance with the present invention, effectively separating heavywater out from an incoming water sample to produce a light-weight watersample and irradiating the light-weight water sample with ultravioletradiation.

The separating out of the heavy water more specifically includesreducing a temperature of the incoming water sample to a predeterminedtemperature (between approximately 35° F. and approximately 37° F.)above freezing and maintaining the incoming water sample at thepredetermined temperature for a predetermined period.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the methodfurther comprises freezing the light weight-water sample andsubsequently heating the frozen light-weight water sample. Thelight-weight water sample is subjected to the ultraviolet radiationduring at least a portion of the freezing and subsequent warming cycle.

The separating out of the heavy water includes cooling of the incomingwater sample in a first container to the predetermined temperature,while the freezing, subsequent heating and irradiating take place in asecond container downstream of the first container. The light-weightwater sample is transferred from the first container to the secondcontainer after the predetermined period and prior to the freezing andsubsequent warming of the light-weight water sample.

Other steps in a method in accordance with the present invention includeheating the incoming water sample prior to the separating out of theheavy water, adding silver ions to the water sample after theirradiating thereof, and operating a programmed computer to control flowof the incoming water sample prior to and after the separating out ofheavy water. The programmed computer is also operated to control coolingin the first container and freezing, heating and irradiating in thesecond container. This computer control of cooling, freezing, heatingand irradiating operations may be executed in response to temperatureswhich are automatically sensed in a temperature monitoring step.

An apparatus and method in accordance with the present invention providepotable, snow-defrosted or structuralized water which is particularlyhealthy for the elimination bacteria and the removal of naturallyoccurring heavy water. The water treated by an apparatus and associatedmethod in accordance with the invention is useful in disease prevention,and even in the healing of illnesses, both in human beings andlivestock. The desired water is produced in a single cycle of operationof the apparatus and is produced automatically, under microprocessor orcomputer control.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a water treatment apparatus in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a combined keypad and displayutilizable in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a water treatment apparatus includes asolenoid valve 10 connected to a pipe 12 extending from a water main orother tap water source (not illustrated). Solenoid valve 10 is connectedat an outlet to a water meter 14 in turn linked on a downstream side toa filter 16. Valve 10 is opened by a programmed microprocessor orcomputer 18 for a time depending on the water flow rate as measured bymeter 14. The total amount of water is predetermined in accordance withsystem capacity. Generally, the system or apparatus of FIG. 1 producestreated batches of water, one batch per cycle of operation. Valve 10 islocked or closed when a necessary and sufficient amount of water hasbeen supplied.

Filter 16 is made of mesh, carbon granules, and wadding and/or otherconventional filter materials for cleaning dust and other particulateimpurities from an incoming water sample or batch. Filter 16 isconnected on a downstream side to an inlet of a heating unit 20. Heatingunit 20 includes a vessel 22 provided with a heating element 24 such asa submersible electrical coil and further provided with a temperaturesensor 26 such as a thermocouple. Heating element 24 is energized underthe control of microprocessor 18 in order to maintain the water sampleat a "close-to-saturation" condition, i.e., at a temperature ofapproximately 94°-96° C. (201°-205° F.), under atmospheric pressure.Heating unit 20 may also include a level detector (not illustrated)which is operatively connected to valve 10, for example, viamicroprocessor 18, for terminating the flow of water into vessel 22 uponthe attainment by the incoming water of a predetermined level in vessel22.

Heating unit 20 is coupled at an outlet to a deuterium separator 28.Deuterium separator includes a container 30 which is connected at aninlet to vessel 22 of heating unit 20 via a solenoid valve 32. Valve 32is opened by microprocessor 18 to transfer a heated water sample bygravity from vessel 22 to container 30. Deuterium separator 28additionally includes a temperature sensor or meter 34 such as athermocouple operatively linked to microprocessor 18 for supplying themicroprocessor with signals which are indicative of the temperature in achamber 36 enclosed or defined by container 30. Deuterium separator 28also includes a cooling element 38 and a submersible electrical heatingelement or coil 40. Cooling element 38 and heating coil 40 are activatedby a dedicated timer 42 or by microprocessor 18 partially in response tosignals from temperature sensor 34. Cooling element 38 may take the formof a submersible girdled coil with a circulating coolant.

Deuterium separator 28 functions to remove heavy water (deuterium oxide)from each water sample by cooling the water sample to a temperaturebetween 35° F. and 37° F. and maintaining the water sample at thatpredetermined temperature for a predetermined period. Because heavywater freezes at a temperature of approximately 38° F., the heavy waterwill migrate and adhere to the walls of container 30 in a frozen state,thereby physically separating the heavy water from the lighter weight"normal" water molecules. Cooling element 38 serves to reduce thetemperature of the water sample transferred from heating unit 20 viasolenoid valve 32. The period clocked by timer 42 or microprocessor 18depends not only on the amount of water being subjected to the physicalseparation procedure but also depends on the configuration of container30. Different configurations of container 30 will subject the incomingwater sample to different surface areas. Generally, the greater thesurface area in contact with the water sample, the less time requiredfor separating out the heavy water.

After the requisite period has passed, a solenoid valve 44 at an outletof container 30 is opened by timer 42 or microprocessor 18 to drain thelight-weight water sample from the deuterium separator 28. While thewater is draining, chamber 36 is maintained at the predetermineddeuterium separation temperature (35°-37° F.), thereby ensuring that theheavy water remains in container 30. After all the light-weight waterhas been drained from container 30, timer 42 or microprocessor 18 closesvalve 44, deactivates cooling element 38 and energizes heating coil 40to increase the temperature of chamber 36 to approximately 50° C. (122°F.), thereby warming the heavy water and returning it to a liquid form.Timer 42 or microprocessor 18 then opens another solenoid valve 46 whichallows the heavy water to flow from container 30. Deuterium separator 28is now ready for the next operating cycle.

Valve 44, at an outlet of deuterium separation container 30, isconnected via a conduit 48 to an inlet of a tank 50 which forms a partof an irradiation unit 52. Other parts of irradiation unit 52 include atemperature sensor or monitor 54, a cooling element 56, a heating coil58 and ultraviolet radiation sources or generators 60, which are alloperatively connected to microprocessor 18. Under the control ofmicroprocessor 18 or a dedicated timer 62, irradiation unit 52irradiates the light-weight water sample from separator 28 withultraviolet radiation during at least a portion of a freezing andsubsequent warming of the light-weight water sample.

After valve 44 has been open for a sufficiently long interval to permitthe essentially deuterium free water from separator 28 to flow into tank50, timer 62 or microprocessor 18 activates cooling element 56 to reducethe temperature of the water sample to the freezing point (32° F.).After a time at the freezing temperature long enough to freeze theentire water sample, timer 62 or microprocessor 18 deactivates coolingelement 56 and energizes heating coil 58 to increase the temperature ofthe water sample. During at least a portion of this cooling and heatingcycle and preferably during the entire process, timer 62 ormicroprocessor 18 transmits a signal to ultraviolet radiation sources 60for induce those sources to emit ultraviolet radiation so that theradiation falls on the water sample in tank 50. With sources 60 locatedoutside tank 50, that unit may be provided with a wall which istransparent to ultraviolet radiation.

After the cooling and warming cycle in tank 50 has terminated, timer 62or microprocessor 18 opens a valve 64 at an outlet of tank 50, therebypermitting the irradiated water sample to pass into a storage vessel 66.The water is maintained no longer than about five hours in vessel 66.Any water remaining at the end of that time is drained to a sewagesystem via a valve 68. Valve 68 is alternately opened and closed by adedicated timer 70 or by microprocessor 18. Valve 10 is opened toprepare another water sample at the time that vessel 66 is emptied.Vessel 66 may be provided with a level sensor (not illustrated) formonitoring the level of water and informing microprocessor 18 when thatlevel has fallen to a predetermined minimum. At that time,microprocessor 18 opens valve 10 and initiates another water treatmentcycle.

Two valves 72 and 74 at an outlet of storage vessel 66 are controlled bymicroprocessor 18 to deliver treated water from storage vessel 66 eitherdirectly to a hot water outlet 76, a cold water outlet 78 or aroom-temperature outlet 80 or indirectly to outlets 76, 78 and 80 via anelectrolytic ionization chamber 82 for adding silver ions to the water.The direction of water flow at the outlet of storage vessel 66 isdetermined by microprocessor 18 in response to a request entered intothe microprocessor by a user via a keypad 84. Outlets 76 and 78 may beprovided with internal heating and cooling elements (not illustrated)for modifying the temperature of water flowing therethrough.

Various components of the water treatment system of FIG. 1 are disposedin an insulated enclosure 86.

The water treatment apparatus or system of FIG. 1 utilizes a singleoperating cycle under conditions which closely imitate natural processesto produce potable water which is useful in disease prevention andtreatment. Water is filtered by filter 16, degassed in heating unit 20,separator 28 and irradiation unit 52, relieved of deuterium oxide inseparator 28, frozen and thawed ("snow-defrosted") in an ultravioletradiation field in irradiation unit 52, optionally enriched with silverions in ionization chamber or ionizer 82 and heated or cooled, ifrequired, at outlets 76 and 78. The automatic system with microprocessor18 is capable of supporting a normal operating mode with a minimalnumber of aberrations at all stages of the manufacture of thesnow-defrosted or structuralized water.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the water treatment apparatus or system ofFIG. 1 may be provided with a single unit 88 housing both keypad 84 anda display 90. Keypad 84 includes a first dedicated button or pushpad 92for initiating a time setting operation, a second dedicated button orpushpad 94 for instructing the addition of silver ions, a thirddedicated button or pushpad 96 for selecting a programming sequence, aswell as dedicated start and automatic operation push pads 97 and 98.

It is to be understood that the term "light-weight water sample" is usedherein to designate quantity of water which has been treated to remove ameasurable amount (0.15%) of heavy water from an incoming water sample.However, the change in water weight is not generally perceptible by thesenses or common weighing devices. In a strict sense, the treated waterat an outlet of the water treatment system is also lighter because ofthe removal of particles by the filter disposed upstream of thedeuterium separation container.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particularembodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in lightof this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modificationswithout departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of theclaimed invention. For example, the functions of heating unit 20 andseparator 28 may be combined in a single unit, with a single vessel orcontainer. Also, the heating elements 24, 40, 58 may be convectionelements disposed externally to vessel 22, container 30 and tank 50. Thegravity induced fluid flow may be supplemented by pump action.Additional measuring instruments such as tensometers and dosimeters maybe provided.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptionsherein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension ofthe invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for treating water to producepotable water, comprising:a first device for effectively separatingheavy water out from an incoming water sample to produce a light-weightwater sample; and a second device, operatively connected to said firstdevice, for irradiating the light-weight water sample with ultravioletradiation, said second device including:a tank for holding saidlight-weight water sample; heat exchange components operativelyconnected to said tank for freezing and subsequently warming saidlight-weight water sample; and an ultraviolet radiation source disposedsufficiently proximate to said tank for exposing said light-weight watersample in said tank to said ultraviolet radiation during at least aportion of a freezing and subsequent warming of said light-weight watersample.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said first deviceincludes a container for holding said incoming water sample and coolingcomponents operatively connected to said container for reducing atemperature of said incoming water sample to a predetermined temperatureabove freezing and maintaining said incoming water sample at saidpredetermined temperature for a predetermined period.
 3. The apparatusdefined to claim 2 whereinsaid container is coupled to said tank fortransferring the light-weight water sample from said container to saidtank after said predetermined period and prior to the freezing andsubsequent warming of said light-weight sample.
 4. The apparatus definedin claim 3, further comprising a heating unit disposed upstream of saidcontainer for heating said incoming water sample prior to feedingthereof to said container, said heating unit being connected to an inputof said container, also comprising a filter connected to an input ofsaid heating unit.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 4, furthercomprising ionization means operatively connected to said tank foradding silver ions to the irradiated light-weight water sample.
 6. Theapparatus defined in claim 5, further comprising a storage vessel at anoutlet of said tank and means at an outlet of said storage vessel and anoutlet of said ionization means for delivering water from said storagevessel and said ionization means to a user.
 7. The apparatus defined inclaim 6 wherein said ionization means includes a chamber connected to anoutlet of said tank.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein saidchamber is connected to said tank via said storage vessel, furthercomprising a plurality of flow-control valves disposed respectivelybetween said heating unit and said container, between said container andsaid tank, between said tank and said storage vessel, and between saidstorage vessel and said chamber, also comprising a programmed computeroperatively coupled to said flow-control valves for operating saidvalves.
 9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said programmedcomputer is also operatively connected to said cooling components andsaid heat exchange components for controlling the operation thereof. 10.The apparatus defined in claim 9, further comprising temperature sensorsdisposed respectively in said container and said tank for monitoringtemperatures of the water in said container and said tank, saidprogrammed computer being operatively coupled to said sensors forcontrolling said cooling components and said heat exchange components inresponse to signals from said sensors.
 11. The apparatus defined inclaim 3, further comprising temperature sensors disposed respectively insaid container and said tank for monitoring temperatures of the water insaid container and said tank, also comprising a programmed computeroperatively coupled said sensors, said cooling components and said heatexchange components for controlling the operation said coolingcomponents and said heat exchange components in response to input fromsaid sensors.
 12. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein saidcontainer is coupled to said tank via a conduit provided with a valve.13. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a heating unitdisposed upstream of said first device for heating said incoming watersample prior to a feeding thereof to said first device, said heatingunit being connected to an input of said first device, also comprising afilter connected to an input of said heating unit.
 14. The apparatusdefined in claim 1, further comprising ionization means operativelyconnected to said second device for adding silver ions to the irradiatedlight-weight water sample.
 15. The apparatus defined in claim 14,further comprising a storage vessel at an outlet of said second deviceand means at an outlet of said storage vessel and an outlet of saidionization means for delivering water from said storage vessel and saidionization means to a user.
 16. The apparatus defined in claim 1,further comprising a plurality of flow-control valves disposedrespectively upstream of said first device, between said first deviceand said second device and downstream of said second device, alsocomprising a programmed computer operatively coupled to saidflow-control valves for operating said valves.
 17. The apparatus definedin claim 1 wherein a programmed computer is operatively connected tosaid first device and said second device for controlling cooling andheating functions therein.
 18. The apparatus defined in claim 1, furthercomprising temperature sensors respectively coupled to said first deviceand said second device for monitoring temperatures of the water in saidfirst device and said second device, said programmed computer beingoperatively coupled to said sensors for controlling cooling and heatingfunctions in said first device and said second device in response tosignals from said sensors.